Togo

Referred to as “La plus Belle” or the “Pearl of the Gulf of Guinea”, tiny Togo’s rich morphology encompasses the fertile plains of the south, the gentle tropical reliefs of the centre, and the endless savannahs and rugged cliffs of the north.

Everywhere there is a mosaic of traditions imbued with magic and ancestral rituals, from the voodoo divinities that inhabit the lush forests, the tranquil lake shores and the Atlantic coastline, to the protective fetishes that are home to the spirits of the ancestors of an animist land dotted with small clay fortress houses in the deep north.

Geographically and culturally, Togo proves to be in part a continuity of neighbouring Benin, testifying that their geopolitical boundaries were a colonial imposition on languages, traditions and customs of the same matrix. Nevertheless, it strongly maintains its own national identity, of which the bustling capital Lomé is the symbol. A city that never sleeps, from the busy streets flooded with zem, to the nightclubs that host an effervescent social life, and the hustle and bustle of its colourful central market or the suggestive market of fetishes, a synthesis of the countless hebdomadar gatherings that colour the country even in the most remote rural village, each with its own characteristics and merchandise.

A destination often relegated to second place by the fame of neighbouring countries, but which deserves attention. The country of sea turtles that come to lay their eggs on the palm-fringed coastline, of treks among the ancient clay granaries set in the cliffs of Dapaong and among the mud fortresses surrounded by sacred baobabs in Tamberma land, of excursions to the panoramic peaks around Kpalimé, among a myriad of butterflies and cocoa plantations, but also the country where Catholic priests bow to Voodoo priestesses and where Muslim believers, before going to the mosque, perform sacrifices in front of the protective fetishes of the hearth or dance mysterious initiations with fire, handed down by ancient Tem warriors.